The Emotional Life of the Toddler by Alicia F. Lieberman, 1995, The Free Press.

Although this is a bit of an older title, Lieberman’s insights about toddlers are still wonderfully readable and relevant to anyone who loves or works with toddlers. Lieberman focuses on the emerging person-hood of two and three year-olds and peppers her text with real-life examples that help clarify the attachment/independence process that goes on behind all of a toddler’s emotional ups and downs. Lieberman discusses a wide array of issues including temperament, separation, toilet training, sibling rivalry, what happens when parents squabble or divorce, and how to help a child adjust to child care.
Review’s Note: For more on attachment theory (presented in an easy-to-understand graphic form), look at the Circle of Security diagrams at www.circleofsecurity.org.

Helping Teens Who Cut by Michael Hollander, 2008, The Guilford Press.

I have been waiting for a book like this for a long time. Hollander’s years of experience allow him to speak with the authority and compassion, which parents of children who cut badly need. For example, he explodes a lot of myths and offers support to parents who have been blamed and/or shamed by therapists. Dr. Hollander begins by outlining the two major reasons why kids cut: to distract themselves from psychic pain and/or their need to “feel alive” when they feel empty and numb. He then provides a detailed description of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) so that parents who are seeking this type of treatment can choose a program that is true to the model that has been most successful and know in advance what activities will be done and why. In a final chapter, Dr. Hollander reminds parents to “take care of themselves,” and he gives them ideas for handling their own emotions and stress as well as the difficult situations that often arise with siblings, other family members, and at school.

The Whitest Wall by Jodee Kulp, 2008, Better Endings New Beginnings.

The is the first noel written by well known Twin Cities FASD advocate, trainer, and mom Jodee Kulp. With incredible care, she weaves together several life stories, all of which shed light on the mystery killer who has touched the lives of the town’s residents. Writes Ruth A. Rice, FASD Program Director at White Earth, “The overall perspective of this book takes the reader to a true understanding of what a person struggling with an FASD may be facing on a daily basis. The analogies to other disabilities and inequities lead the reader to get a feel for the inner workings of the brain of a person who is affected by prenatal alcohol exposure. The issues at hand were made very clear and with such emotion it left the reader feeling very melancholy but with hope for redemption.”
Reviewer's Note: The publication of The Whitest Wall, the first title in a trilogy, is timed to coincide with FASD Awareness Day, which is September 9. To learn more about FASD Awareness Day events, visit www.mofas.org, the website of MOFAS, the Minnesota Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

Other Media of Interest

ADDitude magazine, published by New Hope Communications • www.Additudemag.com

This magazine comes out 5 times a year and is full of information for parents of children struggling with Attention Deficit Disorders. The magazine also features wonderful resources for adults who have recognized ADD symptoms in themselves. In addition to the magazine, www.additudemag.com (the magazine's website) offers several online newsletters and articles. Both the magazine and the website cover a wide range of topics, including research summaries as well as hints on how to simplify homework and keep track of office papers.

Is Anyone Listening? music CD by the Figureheads commissioned by Wisconsin Family Ties.

Hugh Davis, Executive Director of Wisconsin Family Ties, and his staff wanted to do something to change how people think about children who have mental health disorders. So they did--they commissioned The Figureheads, an award-winning musical group to produce a rap music CD that uses original hip-hop music to engage youth and educators to convey positive messages for and about children whose lives are affected by mental health disorders. According to Davis, “some of our staff was sitting around our conference table at the end of a work day, lamenting how anti-stigma campaigns hadn’t really seemed to change society’s perception of kids with mental illness. . . . Before we left that day,we had outlined the concept of this project. We’re not sure if it will work, but we know one thing: It’s time for the next question. Is Anyone Listening?” To hear a clip from the CD or place an order, go to http://isanyonelistening1.wordpress.com/

Reach Out Web site http://www.reachoutcentral.com.au/

This award-winning website from Australia combines research-based mental health content with great youth involvement activities. The site’s mental health video game was the winner of a recent “video games and health promotion” contest. The Inspire Foundation is hoping to launch Reach Out! in the U.S. with funding from the Bristol-Meyers Squibb Foundation. Reviewer’s Note: Your computer must have Flash Player 9 installed to view this site.